Toasters, Kettles and Small Kitchen Appliances

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Toasters, Kettles and Small Kitchen Appliances

What to look for, electrical safety, fire risk and cleaning

Small kitchen appliances are bought on appearance and price, and a few practical points separate one that lasts from one that annoys you daily.

Toasters

Check the slot length and width against the bread you actually buy, since standard slots will not take a large sourdough slice. Variable browning with a defrost and a reheat setting covers most needs.

A removable crumb tray is essential. Crumbs accumulating under the elements are a genuine fire risk and the commonest cause of a toaster smoking.

Never insert a knife or a fork into a toaster, even switched off, and unplug it before poking anything in.

Kettles

Boil only what you need, since a kettle is one of the higher-draw appliances in a house. Check the minimum fill level and that the cup markings are visible from the handle side.

Descale monthly in a hard water area, since limescale insulates the element and makes a kettle slower.

Electrical safety

Plug heating appliances directly into a wall socket, never an extension lead or a multi-way adapter. Check for a recognised safety mark and a fused plug.

Keep flexes short and away from worktop edges, hot rings and water, and never place an appliance where a child could pull it down.

Cleaning

Unplug and let things cool before cleaning. Keep the area around a toaster clear of tea towels, packaging and paper.

Microwaves and air fryers

Both heat small quantities far more efficiently than an oven, which is a genuine saving for one or two people. Check the usable internal space rather than the advertised capacity.

Never put metal in a microwave, and stir and stand food as the instructions say, since uneven heating is what leaves cold spots in reheated food.

Buying to last

Check the warranty length and whether spares are available, which is now required for several appliance categories in the UK and EU. An appliance whose parts are discontinued becomes unusable long before it wears out.

Old appliances go to electrical recycling, and retailers are generally obliged to take back an old one when supplying a new one.

Kitchen fire safety

Never leave cooking unattended, keep tea towels and packaging away from the hob and toaster, and fit a smoke alarm outside the kitchen rather than in it, where cooking sets it off.

A fire blanket near the door is worth having. Never throw water on a pan fire and never move a burning pan.

Buying

Check the warranty and whether spares — filters, trays, seals — are available, since these are what fail first.

Register the product, which is how you hear about a recall.

WHERE TO BUY

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